Rep. Kweisi Mfume

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.

Maddy summaryThe Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution directs the President to withdraw U.S. military forces from active hostilities with Iran. The measure relies on the War Powers Resolution, requiring the President to end combat operations unless the forces are needed to defend the United States or its allies from an immediate attack. Any continued use of troops in such defensive scenarios must still follow specific reporting and notification rules, and full military engagement is only permitted if Congress explicitly authorizes it through a formal declaration of war or a specific authorization for force.

Maddy summaryThe REPORTS Act requires federal agencies to analyze how new major rules affect people living in poverty and issues of racial inequity before publishing them. Additionally, it mandates the Government Accountability Office to produce annual reports examining the economic impacts of specific government programs on these same groups. The legislation allows these analyses to optionally include an assessment of the racial wealth gap, with definitions for key terms set by the Office of Management and Budget or the Comptroller General.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Our Democracy Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to prevent abuses of presidential power, restore checks and balances, and defend elections against foreign interference. Key provisions include prohibiting the President from granting self-pardons, requiring congressional oversight for pardons involving the President or their family, and banning the President from accepting payments from individuals who have received clemency. The bill also strengthens enforcement of the Hatch Act and ethics rules for political appointees, mandates greater transparency in presidential tax returns and campaign finances, and restricts the use of federal property for political conventions. Additionally, it expands reporting requirements for foreign contacts in federal campaigns and imposes stricter penalties for violations of election laws.

Maddy summaryThe Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act allocates $200 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve data collection, surveillance, and research on how public health emergencies affect pregnant and postpartum individuals. This funding supports efforts to gather detailed demographic information on maternal health outcomes, establish regional centers of excellence, and expand surveys to better reach underrepresented communities. The legislation also requires the CDC to make this data publicly available in a disaggregated format while protecting patient privacy, and mandates public education campaigns to ensure accurate information reaches families and healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill creates a diverse task force to develop federal recommendations for respectful maternity care during emergencies, addressing issues such as telehealth access, doula coverage, and the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. These measures aim to reduce health disparities and improve care quality for pregnant people from racial and ethnic minority groups during public health crises.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution condemns the ongoing civil war in Sudan and calls for an end to external support provided to the warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It urges the Trump Administration to stop supplying weapons or other assistance to these groups and to negotiate a peaceful settlement that restores democratic governance. The bill also highlights the severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people and demands that aid workers be granted safe, unrestricted access to deliver essential supplies. Additionally, it calls on the international community to support post-conflict reconstruction and establish a justice mechanism to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to strengthen penalties for organized retail crime by expanding definitions of theft to include digital goods, gift cards, and setting a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for charges over a 12-month period. It would establish a new "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" under Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts against cross-jurisdictional theft groups. The Center would share information with retailers, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies, track crime trends, and produce annual reports on organized retail crime. This legislation directly affects retailers, supply chain businesses, and law enforcement agencies, while targeting organized crime groups responsible for a 93% increase in larceny incidents and rising safety concerns for retail employees. The bill aims to address significant financial losses and supply chain disruptions noted in the National Retail Federation's 2023 data.

Maddy summaryThe Blood Pressure MATTERS Act requires health insurance plans, Medicaid programs, and the Children's Health Insurance Program to cover self-measured blood pressure monitors for pregnant and postpartum individuals without charging copayments or deductibles. This coverage applies to devices that allow individuals to measure their own blood pressure without a doctor's help, provided the device is FDA-cleared and listed on a specific validated registry. The law mandates that these devices be covered regardless of whether a person has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, but limits the benefit to one device per person every two years. These changes take effect approximately 120 days after the bill is enacted, with a grace period for states that need to pass additional legislation to comply.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. government from spending money on military actions against Iran between its enactment and December 31, 2026, unless Congress explicitly approves the use of force. It allows for military action only if Congress declares war, passes a specific authorization, or if the action is necessary to defend the United States or its allies from an imminent attack while following reporting requirements. The law directly restricts the President's ability to deploy troops without legislative approval during the specified timeframe.